Morocco Lower House Adopts Bill on Military Service

The House of Representatives (lower house) adopted Wednesday, at a plenary session, a draft law on military service.

Introducing this bill, which aims to consolidate the feeling of belonging to the motherland and to promote the spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, minister delegate in charge of national defence administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, said that the reinstatement of military service takes place following the high instructions of HM King Mohammed VI and is in accordance with Article 38 of the Constitution which states that all citizens contribute to the defense of the homeland and its territorial integrity against any attack or threat.

The aim of military service is to strengthen social cohesion, to ease professional and social integration and to instil a military culture based on discipline, courage, commitment, responsibility and respect for institutions, he pointed out.

According to Loudyi, an information and communication campaign will be launched to explain the objectives of this project.

The draft bill restores military service for young people aged between 19 and 25 years. However, people over the age of 25 who have benefited from one of the exemptions provided for by law may still be called to perform military service, if the reason for their exemption is no longer relevant, until the age of 40.